Animal Groups — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which body covering do reptiles have?
A) Feathers
B) Fur
C) Scales
D) Smooth skin
Reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and turtles are covered in scales that protect their bodies and lock in moisture. Feathers are for birds, fur is for mammals, and smooth moist skin belongs to amphibians.
2. Which animal can live both in water and on land?
A) Goldfish
B) Toad
C) Robin
D) Lion
A toad is an amphibian, and amphibians can live both in water and on land during their lives. Goldfish stay in water, while robins and lions live only on land.
3. How many legs does an insect have?
A) Two
B) Four
C) Six
D) Eight
An insect always has six legs, three on each side of its body. Spiders have eight legs and are not insects.
4. Which of these is NOT a mammal?
A) Bear
B) Rabbit
C) Horse
D) Turtle
A turtle is a reptile with scales and a shell, so it is not a mammal. Bears, rabbits, and horses all have fur and feed milk to their babies, which makes them mammals.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Fish are covered in scales that help protect their body.
A fish's body is covered with overlapping scales that act like a flexible suit of armor. The scales protect the fish and help it slide smoothly through water.
2. Newts and frogs have moist skin without scales.
Newts and frogs are amphibians, and their thin skin must stay moist so they can breathe through it. Without the moisture, they would dry out.
3. A robin builds a nest to keep its eggs safe.
Robins weave grass and twigs into a nest, which holds the eggs in one safe spot high off the ground. The nest also keeps the eggs warm until they hatch.
4. Bats are mammals because they have fur and feed milk.
Bats are covered in fur and feed their babies milk, the two big clues that an animal is a mammal. Even though bats can fly, they are not birds because they have no feathers.
5. All vertebrates have a backbone inside their body.
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone running down the inside of their body. The backbone supports the body and protects the spinal cord.